The WSU women’s swimming team hopes to finish strong as they face off against the University of Idaho Vandals, in the last dual meet of the season.

WSU fell last week, in the second and last home meet of the season, to the Oregon State Beavers 143-119.

In last weekend competition the Cougar relays shined, taking first in both of its events.

In the 200 medley relay, sophomore Emma Johansson, senior Jessie Craig, senior Melissa Bogert and junior Evelina Bieleckaite finished in the top position, touching the wall with a time of 1:45.18.

In the 400 free relay, freshman Nicole Proulx, Bieleckaite, Johansson and senior Emma Neely, captured the first place position, finishing with a time of 3:28.82.

This upcoming weekend against the Idaho Vandals will mark the first time that Cougar Head Coach Tom Jager returns to his former school, and he said he expects the atmosphere to be exciting.

“I’m proud,” Jager said. “There is going to be 600 people at that pool next week, you know seven years ago before I stepped on the Palouse there was zero, so I’m proud. We left that program healthy and this program here is beginning to become very healthy very quick, so it’s going to be fun.”

Senior Danielle Palumbo said that the focus heading into this weekend’s competition against the Vandals will be similar to that of the focus against Oregon State.

“It is probably going to be a fairly close meet,” Palumbo said.

Palumbo said that the entire Cougar team has to continue to stick together and finish the regular season out strong. She said the team is hoping to capture the win against the Idaho Vandals tomorrow with hopes of gaining some momentum heading into the Pac-12 tournament.

Craig said the team just has to really focus in on the minor details of the race in order to be successful against UI.

“We are really close to prospering, so we just have to stick together and fight until the end,” Craig said.

WSU is set to begin its competition against the UI Vandals tomorrow, with the meet beginning at 11:30 a.m. at the UI Swim Center.